Wire helix-forming core



Patented July 4, 1950 WIRE HELIX-FORMING CORE Edward E. Woller, Kenosha, `Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, New York, N. Y., a Acorporation of Delaware Application February 3, 1949, Serial No. 74,365

(Cl. 15S- 66) 5 Claims. l

'This invent-ion relates to helix-forming cores of the type employed in yspring assembly machines such as are shown in Patent 2,388,106, issued October 30, 1945.

In a machine Lof this type the wire is pushed through the helix-forming groove by a pair of rollers arranged adjacent to the core. Wire used for this'vpurpose, generally 4has to be exposed to an oil bath during the drawingthereof Aor is sub-- sequently treated with'zoi-l to protect the surface: against rusting. More than likely, during storageA and transport of such wireparticles 4of dust and dirt Will yaccumulate on this oil coating. Consequently, when such a wire is pushed through the helix-forming groove the dustand dirtladen oil or grease is wiped olif onto the core.` Accumulations vof such material vbecome so xexcessive that requent shut-downs yof the machine are required in order to permit workmen to remove, clean, and replace the core. Obviously, such shut-downs result in temporary losses in production.

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide an improved form of helix-forming core which is virtually self-cleaning; and to provide a helix-forming core of this kind which is inexpensive to manufacture and capable of being readily substituted for the helix-forming core of the type heretofore in use.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of the core-mounting and Wire-pushing portions of a helix-forming machine such as is shown in the aforesaid patent wherewith is associated a helixforming core constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of this improved helix-forming core per se;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the core in the position shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the view of the core as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a View of the shaft directly opposite that shown in Fig. 4; and

I Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are cross-sectional views of the core taken on the lines 6 6, I-I, and 8-8, respectively, of Fig. 1.

As shown and described in the aforesaid patent 2,388,106, a helix-forming core III is in the form of a rod or shaft with a larger grooved section I'I and a reduced or stem section I8. The core I is supported in a mounting I3 in position to receive a Wire I4 which is pushed through a core groove II by feeding rollers I and I6. The wirereceiving groove I I extends from the front end of HIJ 2 the core l!) axially inward along the periphery of the larger lsection li' to a point near the stem I8 Where the groove is diverted into a helix terminating at the reduced or stem `section I8. y

In a 'core vconstructed in accordance with this invention, an auxiliary .groove or channel I2 is for-med on the larger section II of the core I diametrically opposite the groove II and is diverted into a helix parallel with the 'helical part of the groove I I. This `auxiliary groove or channel I2 is initiated lslightly short of the front end of the shaft IB and is ysomewhat larger in width than the groove Il Apertures or openings vI9 are formedin the core shaft I-IJ providing communication radially of the shaft between the grooves Il and I2. As will be `-most clearly noted from Figs. 6, 7, and 8, these apertures are tapered from the groove II toward the groove I2. 'A

The mounting member I3 supports a tubular element 2u wherein the core I8 is secured by a set screw 2l. The tubular element 20, in turn, is retained in proper position on the mounting member I3 by a set screw 22. The core I0 is positioned with the tapered inner end between the rollers I5 and I6 to receive the wire I4 therefrom. The core stem I8 is thereby located in a collar 23. mounted in a block 24 Secured to the mounting I3.

During the operation of a spring assembly machine of the type shown in the aforesaid patent, the dustand dirt-laden oil or grease, as it is wiped or scraped from the wire I d passing through the groove I I, has a tendency to pass through the openings I9 into the groove I2. The constant scraping of such material from the wire will tend to keep a pressure on the material escaping through the apertures I9 so that such material will be forced eventually out through the end of the spiral portion of the groove I2. There is, therefore, little possibility of this dustand dirtladen grease or oil clogging the helix-forming groove II, thereby practically obviating the necessity of stopping the machine in order to remove and clean the coil, as so frequently has proved to be the case with the type of helixforming core shown in the aforesaid patent.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wire-helix-forming core of the class described comprising, a shaft having formed in its outer surface a groove terminating in a spiral and of a size to accommodate the wire and form y scribed comprising, a shaft having formed in its outer surface a, groove terminating in a spiral and of a size to accommodate the wire and form it into a helix when the wire is propelled through said groove, said shaft having a second groove formed in the surface thereof in spaced parallel relationship to said Wire-forming groove, and said core having one or more transverse openings connecting said groovesv whereby material wiped from said wire passing through said wire-forming groove is discharged through said other groove.

3. A wire-helix-forming core of the class described comprising, a shaft having formed in its outer surface a groove terminating in a spiral and of a size to accommodate the wire and form it into a helix when the wire is propelled through said groove, -said shaft having a second groove formed in the surface thereof diametrically opposite and in parallel relationship to said wireforming groove, and said core having one or more transverse openings connecting said grooves whereby material wiped from said wire passing through said wire forming groove is discharged l through said other groove.

4. A wire-helix-fdrming core of the class described comprising, a Shaft having formed in its outer surface a groove terminating in a spiral and of a size to accommodate the wire and form it into a helix when the wire is propelled through said groove, said shaft having a second groove formed in the surface thereof diametrically opposite and in parallel relationship to said wireforming groove, and said core having one or more transverse openings connecting said grooves and tapered toward said second groove whereby material wiped from said wire passing through said wire-forming groove is discharged through said other groove. 5. A wire-heliX-forming core of the class described comprising, a shaft having formed in its outer surface a groove terminating in a spiral and of a size to accommodate the wire and form it into a helix when the wire is propelled through said groove, said shaft having a second and larger groove formed in the surface thereof diametrically opposite and in parallel relationship to said wire-forming groove, and said core having one or more transverse openings connecting said grooves and tapered toward said second groove whereby material wiped from said wire passing through said wire-forming groove is discharged through said other groove.

EDWARD E. WOLLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNI'IED `STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,243,179 James Oct. 16, 1917 2,388,106 Woller Oct. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number I Country Date 20,307 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1908 255,438 Germany Jan. 8, 1913 

